Somebody at Chrysler thinking?

[Dan43]

The head of product development at Chrysler says they have canceled the proposed midsize truck that was to replace the Dakota. He says that they are now planning to build a small truck to replace the Dakota.


Veltri said that in the 1980s, the compact-pickup segment had annual sales of about 1.5 million units, more than full-sized pickups.

Last year, compact-pickup sales were down 31 percent compared with 2008 to 270,348.

"But everybody started making these trucks bigger and bigger," Veltri said.

"And pretty soon a guy goes into the showroom and says, 'For X dollars more, I can get a Ram full-sized truck.'

"If you look at Dakota today, it is large sizewise. It is very capable, can tow 7,000 pounds, comes with a V8 and a V6. It is a mini full-sized truck. ... Everybody has gotten the formula wrong — expensive, too capable."

Veltri said many buyers in the market want a pickup and better fuel economy, "but they do not need it to tow 7,000 pounds."
I have been saying that for years.

[Butthead]

danno, if you buy a wee truck, all the rednecks in Columbus are going to laugh at you. :D

[Mr. OX]

Since Ford wants to kill the ranger, this might be a prudent move for Dodge. If they hit a home run like they did with the new Ram and Ram HD, this could be the beginning of something beautiful for Chrysler.

[MrBlah]

I had a 2wd turbo diesel truck back in the 80's, 35 mpg and it towed and hauled great

I dunno if they can ever do that formula again, the current safety requirements make them a lot larger and heavier

[wbeck257]

Me too -- but people keep hinting at it, but it never happens.
How long has Mahindra been talking about their truck? Is it here yet? ... no.

[Dan43]

I had a 2wd turbo diesel truck back in the 80's, 35 mpg and it towed and hauled great

I dunno if they can ever do that formula again, the current safety requirements make them a lot larger and heavier

If the Mini can pass the safety regs, a small truck can also.

[MrBlah]

If the Mini can pass the safety regs, a small truck can also.

I owned a mini, they are pretty heavy, almost 3000 pounds, nothing like those old d50's, and the mini's cost quite a bit too

[wbeck257]

If the Mini can pass the safety regs, a small truck can also.

The saftey stuff is (a) problem -- the last guy I talked with at Mahindra was telling me that they US version will come will an aftermarket brush guard up front, because that is the only way they can get it to pass crash test.

[Dan43]

I owned a mini, they are pretty heavy, almost 3000 pounds, nothing like those old d50's, and the mini's cost quite a bit tooThe heaviest 2010 MINI has a curb weight of 2,877lbs. The lightest has a curb weight of 2,568lbs.

The lightest 2010 Dodge Dakota has a curb weight of 4,291lbs. (BTW:My 1990 GMC 1500 longbed only weighed 4,390)

That means there is at least 1,414lbs and probably 1,723lbs of pork in the Dakota compared to the MINI. You are correct, it may no longer be possible to build a practical 2,000lbs truck like the old B2000 Mazda or Mitsubishi Mity-Max, but there is no engineering or regulatory reason why they can't build a truck that weighs 40% less than the current Dakota.

I still say the old T-100 was the perfect size truck for the vast majority of people who have an practiacal use for a truck other than as a way to move people.